When President Obama sent New Year greetings to the Iranian people on March 20, US satelliteswere recording a mockup of Iran's first aircraft carrier in mid-work at the Revolutionary Guards naval base of Bandar Abbas. It was modeled on a US Nimitz-class super-carrier, which is nuclear powered, 330 meters long and carries 3,000 naval and air crew and 85-90 fighter craft and helicopters. The Iranian mockup is still crude. But, says debkafile, Iran has surprised the world before by copying, developing and operating advanced surveillance drones and cyber war capabilities.

The European oil embargo taking effect Sunday, July 1 blocks the sale to EU members of one-third of Iran’s daily output of 3.3 million barrels a day. From now on, EU insurance firms withhold cover from governments and firms operating tankers delivering Iranian oil. The embargo was clamped down after diplomatic efforts failed to halt Iran’s nuclear weapon program. Gulf armies led by Saudi Arabia are on alert for reprisals. Two oil pipelines have been activated to bypass the Strait of Hormuz if it is blocked.

Dep. Chief of the Iran's Revolutionary Guards Gen. Hossein Salami Thursday, Dec. 29, warned: "The United States is in no position to tell Tehran what to do in the Strait of Hormuz. Any threat will be responded [to] by threat." Earlier, a US air carrier entered the Sea of Oman where Iran is conducting a big naval drill. In Israel, chief of staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz spoke of the mounting potential of a regional conflict, adding Israel could not afford to stay on the defensive.